Automobile-signal



E. J. SANER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION men SEPT. 1, 1920.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

. TSSHEET 1.

dlllllll E. J. SANER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED sin. 1. I920.

1,399,524, Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EMIL J. SANER, 0]? WEST NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

I Application filed September 1, 1920. Serial No. 407,486.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL J. SANER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of West New York, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-eignals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device for use on automobiles for Signaling toautomobiles and other vehicles to the rear, of an intention to stop or turn. The device includes a number of arrowsor semaphoreswhich fold into overlapping position within a casing when out of use and which are projectedoutwardly in fan shape when set for signaling. The device includes a simple lever arrangement for quickly projecting the signaling member in fan shape and for holding them in that position until released. The signal operating device is so arranged and operated that it will operate the semaphores equally well whether the apparatus is arranged on the right-hand side or left hand side of the automobile, so that the apparatus is adapted to be changed from one side to the other without altering the operating device.

My improvements also include a simple adjustable bracket'for attachingthe apparatus to the dashboardoi an automobile.

In the drawing forming part of this application, 1 a

Figure 1 is an elevation of my signaling device without the bracket, showing thesame positioned for signaling at the left hand side of an automobile, 1 i

Fig. 2is a similar view showing the semaphores downor closed, Fig.3 is an enlarged View of the lever device for operating the semaphores, one half of. the casing being removed toexpose the operating parts, 1

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing lugs'on the several semaphore blades for causing the latter to pick up or engage one another when overlapping, to efiect the folding or closing of the several blades, 1 1 Fig.5 is an end view ofthe apparatus,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view,

Fig. 7 ise plan view, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 9, is an edge view of the signal casa Fig. 10 is a face view of the attaching bracket,

Fig. 11 is an elevation attached on the bracket,

Fig. 12 is a bracket.

I prefer to use a for inclosing the showing the device and plan view of the attaching compact form of casing signal members and their operating devices and for this purpose I have provided parallel plates 1, 2, connected by screws 3 and comprising the wider portion 4: for inclosing the operating devices, and the long narrower portion 5 for inclosing the semaphores. One side of the portion 5 is closed by a wall 6 and the opposite side is left open to allow the semaphores or signal blades to move in and out.

The semaphore blades are shown herein of arrow shape and five in number, though.

there may be a greater or lesser number of 1311686 members if desired. They are all pivoted to swing on a common arbor 7 which passes through the walls of the casing.

arm 20 of the master semaphore blade 8.

The operating lever is thus connected directly with only one of the semaphore blades and the remaining blades are actuated by that (master) blade. The operating lever arm 14c is adapted to pass a stop piece 21 on the casing and to engage behind either of the edges 22, 23 of the stop to lock the lever in either of its extreme positions. The operating lever serves to move the master blade into the position shown in Fig. 1 at right angles to the part 5 of the casing, or to the position shown in Fig. 2 where it lies inclosedor retracted within the casing.

The master blade is provided with memhere which engage with or pick up the several other blades in successive order when the master blade is swung into signaling position; and these members cause the remaining blades to move into position to form a complete signal of fan shape. The engaglng member 24 extending at right angles from one edge (bottom in Fig. 3), of the master blade 8 projects across the path of the signal blade 9 which lies next to the masterblade but not far enough to engage any of the other blades. The projection on the master blade is offset farther than the projection 2a and it is long enough to reach over and engage the edge of the blade 10. Likewise,, the projection 26 is offset still-farther and is long enough to engage the edgeof the blade 11: andtthe projection27 isistill farther offset and it is long enough toengage the blade 12. The master blade-also has a projection 28 at its opposite-ed 'gages the opposite edges of all the-other ge which enblades in one direction. I prefer to arrange individual lugs or: projections 29,32-on the several bladeseach one: adapted to engage the edge of an: adjacent blade when moving toward the closed position so allthe strain will not come on the pro ection 28 of the master blade.

. to hold these outerends in the desired formationwhen extended and which will leave the blades free for folding. This consists of a cord or string 35' tiedthrough a hole 36 in each blade at the outer end, and between the points of tying the cord is of the required length-to hold the outer ends of the blades from separating beyond the fan shape indicated. As thiscord is flexible it does not interfere with the folding'of the blades upon each other when they are closed and it also prevents rattling of the outer ends of the blades againsteaoh other.

Any means maybe employedifor attach- ,ingthe device in position on: an automobile,

but herein I have shown a device consisting of anangle plate 87 against-one web 38 of which the casing-may be clamped by'imeans of the screws? I The casing may be attached to the member 37' in either of two positions.

so that the-part 5 of the casing or frame may be arranged to extend downwardly when the device is-either: on: the left hand side or: the right hand isidezof the automobile. *When the-bracket is reversed; from onei'si'de to: the V ,othenthecasmgmay be released-pby'remov- .ing. the";screws--j3 and they casing; may then be turned over and reclamped in the opposite position. Thus the blades may be directed downwardly when in closed position regardless of which side of the automobile the dcvice is attached to.

The bracket member 37 is attached to the companion bracket member 39 by a bolt 4-0 engaging in an aperture 41 in the bracket member 39 and by a bolt (41 in the arcuatc slot 12 in the member Those bolts pormit the bracket member 37 to be adjusted in the arc of a circle to permit the member 37 to be placed upright regardless of the angle of inclination of the member 39. .The latter is screwed or bolted to the dash board of the so automobile and as the dashboards in different vehicles have different angles of inclina tion the adjustment above referred to makes it possible to adapt the device to any dashboard.

Operation: When the device is attached for left hand signaling as shown in F 1 and 2 the portion 5 of the casing hangs downwardly and when the signal blades are 1n closed position they are incloscd therein. The operating lever, arm 14;, engages at tlns time behind theshouldcr 23 of the block 2].. If it is desired to set the signal to signal to approaching automobilists the operator grasps the handle 15 and moves the lever arm 14: sideways enough to pass the shoulder 23v and then moves the lever arm upwardly and moves it into locking engagement of the shoulder 22 of the block 21. During this operation of the lever arm 14: the arm 16 operates through the link 18 to swing the end 20 of the master blade downwardlv and the outer or signaling portion of this blade upwardly. As the master blade moves upwardly (outer portion) the projection 24 comes into contact-with the blade 9 and from then on these blades move upwardlytogether. Just after the projection 24 engages the blade 9 the projection 25 engages the blade 10, and

in like manner the projections 26, 27, successively engage the blades 11 and 12 re- 'SPBCtIXElY, and all blades then move upwardly until the master blade reaches a horizontal position and the several blades are positioned in fan shape. In this position the blades are visible at the roar of the automobile and indicate that the latter is about to stop or turn. To retract the signal the lever arm 14 is released from the shoulder 22 and it is moved downwardly. This operation swings the master blade downwardly and if the other blades fail to fall by. gravity the several projections 28-32 come into action on adjacent blades and all blades then move down with the master blade, overlapping as they do so, and finally stopping inside the casing portion.

To position the device for right hand signaling it is only necemary to reposition the brackets and reverse the signal casing on the brackets, and the signal blades will then peft projected to the right instead of to the When the master blade moves upwardly and carries the other blades with it, the several blades come to rest against the stepped shoulders 34 of the stop block 33. While the blades are resting against this block they cannot be shaken upwardly out of their formation by jarring of the automobile.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: p

1. A signal device of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of signal blades pivoted in said casing and adapted to be swung into and out of said casing, manually controlled means for actuating one of said blades to project the same into signaling position and means on said last mentioned blade for successively engaging the remaining blades to cause the latter to be operated with said operated blade and a stepped abutment member against which said blades are adapted to rest in fan shape relation when in signaling position.

2. A signal device of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of signal blades pivoted in said casing, manually controlled Ineans for actuating one of said blades to project it into signaling position and projections on said actuated blade oliset different extents and adapted to suecessively engage the several blades as the said actuated blade moves into signaling position whereby the several blades are proj ected in fan shape formation.

3. A. signal device of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of signal blades pivoted in said casing, manually controlled means for actuating one of said blades: to project it into signaling position, means on said latter blade for engaging the other blades to cause the several blades to be projected in fan shape formation, and pliable means connecting the outer free ends of said blades for the purpose set forth.

4%. A signal device of the class described comprising a casing, pivoted signal blades therein and means for operating them, and means for attaching said casing to a vehicle comprising a bracket member having right angle plates, one of which is adapted to be attached to the vehicle and the other having an arcnate slot and an aperture concentrically located, and a second bracket member having a plate adapted to be secured to the second plate portion of the first bracket member by means of bolts passing through said aperture and said arcuate slot, said second bracket member having a secend plate at right angles to the first portion and against which said casing is bolted.

Signed at the city, county, and State of New York, this 21st day of August, 1920.

EMIL J. SANER. 

